NSAC Archives for August, 2011
New ERS Conservation Articles and Report
Monday, August 29th, 2011
On Monday, August 22, USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) issued a new edition of its Amber Waves magazine, featuring two important agricultural conservation stories. “Reducing Agriculture’s Nitrogen Footprint: Are New Policy Approaches Needed?” is a helpful quick review by Marc Ribaudo of earlier ERS publications on nutrient management and the array of possible policies to Read the Rest…
Farmer Backlog for Federal Credit Addressed but Serious Gap Remains
Sunday, August 28th, 2011
On July 28, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) transferred unneeded Guaranteed Farm Operating Loan (GOL) funds to two credit programs with higher demand – Direct Farm Operating Loans (DOL) and Guaranteed Farm Ownership (GFO) loans. FSA has general authority to transfer a portion of appropriated funds from one loan program to another to bring spending Read the Rest…
USDA Proposes New Animal ID and Tracing Regulation
Saturday, August 27th, 2011
On Thursday, August 11, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) issued a proposed rule with national official identification and documentation requirements for the traceability of livestock moving interstate. Animals covered by the proposed rule include cattle, bison, sheep, goats, swine, horses and other equines, captive cervids and poultry. USDA’s stated purpose for implementing the Read the Rest…
2011 Conservation Innovation Grant Awards Announced
Wednesday, August 24th, 2011
On Monday, August 22, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced the 2011 recipients of the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG). Approximately $22.5 million will be awarded to 52 non-profit, private and public organizations addressing natural resource concerns in 40 states across the country. Conservation Innovation Grants leverage multi-stakeholder partnerships to address a variety of natural resource Read the Rest…
New USDA Report Highlights Successes of the Wetlands Reserve Program
Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011
On Monday, August 22, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) released a new publication highlighting the success of the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) over its 20-year history. The Wetlands Reserve Program According to the report, more than half of all wetland acres in the continental United States have been lost. In some states, this number Read the Rest…
Tester – Now More Than Ever
Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition For Immediate Release August 17, 2011 Contact: Helen Dombalis 202-547-5754 Tester – Now More Than Ever Washington, DC August 17, 2011 – Some national produce industry groups seem to be exploiting a recent outbreak of E. coli 0157:H7 bacteria, thought to have originated in strawberries from an Oregon farm, for the Read the Rest…
USDA Announces $3.2 Million in 2011 Rural Business Enterprise Grants
Friday, August 19th, 2011
On Thursday, August 18, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the award of $3.2 million in grants to a variety of investments in rural and Tribal community development across the nation. A total of 32 projects in 15 states will receive funding. These grants are awarded annually by USDA’s Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG) program, Read the Rest…
USDA Announces $55 Million in Nationwide Community Facilities Grants
Thursday, August 18th, 2011
On Thursday, August 18, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the award of $55 million in loans and grants to a variety of investments in rural community development across the nation. A total of 107 projects in 31 states and Puerto Rico will receive funding. These loans and grants are awarded annually by USDA’s Community Read the Rest…
USDA Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Grants
Thursday, August 18th, 2011
On Wednesday, August 17, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the award of $11.6 million in FY2011 Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grants to over 900 agricultural producers and rural small businesses across the country. The grants can be used to finance up to 25-percent of the project costs, not to exceed $500,000 for renewable Read the Rest…
2011 Healthy Food Enterprise Awards Announced
Monday, August 15th, 2011
In mid-July the Healthy Food Enterprise Development (HUFED) Center announced its 2011 HUFED awards. The Center is administered by the Wallace Center at Winrock International, an NSAC member organization. A total of $630,000 will be awarded to 17 enterprises over the next two years for “innovative and entrepreneurial approaches to resolve barriers to healthy food Read the Rest…
